Natan Sharansky in support of Herzog’s initiative * Yair Lapid on Israelis’ democratic instinct * Heritage Minister Eliyahu on Herzl’s vision * AIPAC’s difficult job

[Times of Israel]( [The Blogs Weekly]( Thursday, March 16, 2023 From the blogs [President Herzog’s initiative is not perfect, but I support it]( By Natan Sharansky For Israelis to simply say ‘no’ with the sort of ferocity that was appropriate when I faced the KGB is a tragic mistake when we face one another Yair Lapid [The deep democratic instinct of patriotic Israelis]( Together, we protect our democracy, our values, and ourselves from a government of bigots and extremists with unchecked power Susie Gelman [Smotrich’s US visit is a defining moment for Israel supporters]( The minister’s views threaten the foundations of modern Israel – he should not be given a platform in Washington From the blogs - part 4 of 5 [Tackling an existential danger — Israel’s neglected education system]( By Dan Ben-David With the children of the fastest-growing population groups receiving a third-world education, a first-world economy will be unsustainable, a first-class army impossible Amichai Eliyahu [Herzl’s vision goes deeper than a safe haven]( As Israel’s Minister of Heritage, my sacred duty is to connect those detached from our people to our forefather, Abraham Daniel Livingston [I worked in the Republican Party. Israel’s government is adopting a vision found on its most extreme fringe.]( The judicial overhaul is antithetical to constitutionalism, personal liberty, and the values on which Israel was founded [The hidden economic costs of the judicial upheaval]( By Barry Topf The damage of what may happen to harm the economy is nothing compared to the damage of all the things that won’t happen Seth Farber [The slippery slope toward a monolithic Judaism]( Aiming for 100+ changes to Israel’s religion-and-state laws, the coalition endangers Judaism’s inherent diversity Chuck Freilich [What would the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps commander say?]( Who needs to destroy the Zionists when they’re doing the job themselves? An imagined memo from Gen. Hossein Salami [AIPAC does the difficult work for us]( By David-Seth Kirshner I want the US to oppose BDS and efforts to delegitimize Israel, no matter how distasteful I find the relevant congressmen Julie Sandorf [To protest Smotrich, cash in your Israel Bonds]( And then donate the redemptions to those institutions that foster democracy for all Israeli citizens Gideon Rahat [Government of the people means government of ALL the people]( This battle is not left vs. right, it’s between those who embrace democracy and those seeking to institute majority rule [10 tons of hope]( By Chaim Peri In Acre, Arab and Jewish youths came together to pack coats and blankets for the needy in post-earthquake Turkey more choice voices Radha Stirling [Iran-Saudi Arabia deal a dangerous sign of Western retreat]( The China-brokered rapprochement bolsters a growing global authoritarian nexus that opposes democracy and human rights Efraim Zuroff [Germany should fast-track Nazi trials before the criminals all die off]( Those now in their 90s and older who kept the death camps running don’t deserve to pass away in tranquility Dan Ben-David [Government priorities pivoted in the 1970s. Israelis today are paying the price]( Traffic jams and packed hospitals are just two results of decades of placing sectoral interests above national ones Marcus Sheff [Morocco’s school curriculum demonstrates remarkable respect for Jews]( A Muslim state’s textbooks teach that Muhammad, no less, would have been glad one of his followers shared a meal with a Jew [The Blogs Weekly]( [facebook]( [twitter]( [instagram]( [View in browser]( [Contact support](mailto:support@timesofisrael.com) [Advertise with us](mailto:advertise@timesofisrael.com) Were you forwarded this email? [Subscribe here]( [Unsubscribe]( from this List © 2023 The Times Of Israel, All Rights Reserved